Flash-light.



B. BENEDICT. msu LIGHT. APPLICATION FILED NOV- l9. I9|5 illllllllllIIIIIIIIIW" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO BEACON MINIATURE ELECTRIC 00., INCL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FLASH-LIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

Application filed November 19, 1915. Serial No. 62,302.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Bnnxsno Bnxnoic'r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of Bronx and State of Xew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F lash- Lights, of which the following is a specification.

The invention pertains more particularly to a novel construction of flash light adapted to be carried in the pocket and by preference the casing of this flash light will be in the similitude of a watch case, so that the article as a whole may' have tlie'appearance of a watch and. if desired, carried in the vest pocket and be held by a customary watch chain or fob. The casing of the flash light will be composed of two substantially equal sections which may be opened outwardly from each other and which, when together, will form between them a chamber adapted toreceive a two cell battery with the appropriate conductors. The casing will preferably be of metal and be provided with a stem in the similitude of the stem of a watch case and containing a socket in which will be applied the electric lamp, and the said stem will also preferably be provided with a ring to which a chain may be connected. Upon the edge of the casing of the flash light is provided a finger piece for making and breaking the circuit 7 The article as a whole is intended to convey the impression of a watch and to afford a novel construction of flash light which may be conveniently carried in the pocket and conveniently used.

The invention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: i Figure 1 is a view, partly in section, showing the flash light of my invention with the two sections of the casing opened outwardly from each other;

Fig. 2 is a section through the same, taken on the dotted line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a slightly enlarged top view of my flash light, the casing sections being shown as closed together and the ring as turned to one side so as to more fully dis- };close the electric lamp;

Fig. 4 is a section through the same, taken Ion the dotted line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

' Fig. 5 is an interior elevation, partly tion 15. The casing section 16 is wire 23 with the negative pole section of a. modified broken away, of one light embodying my construction of flash invention;

Fig. 6 is a corresponding view of the same, but with the battery cells and their supporting frame removed;

Fig. 7 is a slightly enlarged vertical section through the modified flash light as a whole taken on the dotted line 77 of Fig. 5;

. Fig. 8 is detached elevation of the supporting frame for the battery cells;

Fig. @is a slightly enlarged transverse section through a portion of the casing taken on the dotted line 9-9 of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 10 is a like line 1010 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings, referring to Figs. 1 to l inclusive. 1Q designates the flash light casing as a whole, 11 the stem creating a. socket 12 for the lanip 13, and 14 a ring swiveled to said stem and adapted to receive the end of a chain. The caslng 10 is formed of two substantiall' equal metallic shells 15, 16, which are hinged together, as at 17, and form within them a receiving chamber for the battery cells 18. The shells 15, 16 are preferably circular in edge out-line and sufficiently dishedwithin such outline to create the battery receiving chamber, and in general respects the said sections 15, 16 form a casing in the similitude approximately of a watch case. The stem 11 is of sheet metal and has a. lower threaded inner portion and an open to as shown in Fig. 2, and it is carried who] y by the casing secrecessed, as at 18', to fit around the lower edge of the stem 11, and said section 16 may be provided with any suitable catch 19 for releas view, taken on the dotted shell 15.

Within the shell or section 15 is secured a partition 20 upon which the Battery cells 18 may be placed, said cells being inclosed in a. carton 21 insulating their walls from each other and from the shell 15. The cells 18 are parallel with each other and extend transversely of the shell 15, with their positive and negative poles oppofitely or reversely arranged, and the positive pole 22 of one cell 18 is connected by a conducting ofthe other cell 18, and said other cell18 tive pole 24 in electrical contact with a conhas its p0si-' tacting spring 25, which is secured to the shell 15, as shown in Fig. 1. The negative pole of the upper cell 18 has secured to it a conducting contact spring 26, which extends transversely of the casing 10 in proximity to a non-conducting finger 27 carried by a slide 28 to which is secured a thumb piece 29, the slide 28 being at the inner side of the rim of the shell 15 and the thumb piece 29 being at the outer side of said rim, and the slide and thumb piece being connected together by a rivet extending through a slot formed in said rim and allowing said slide and thumb piece to have a movementalong said rim for making and breaking the circuit through the lamp. The nonconducting finger 27 is immediately above the upwardly deflected free end of the spring 26. and said spring extends transversely below the terminal 30 of the lamp 13, the other terminal of said lamp being in electrical connection with the stem 11 and shell or section 15. The circuit is made or broken at the terminal 30 of the lamp 11 by the spring 26, and when the thumb piece 29 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, it and the slide 28 holds the finger 27 in a position which causes it to prevent the free portion of the spring 26 from moving upwardly to engage the terminal 30, but when the thumb piece 29 and slide 28 are moved upwardly toward the stem 11, the linger 27 is carried in a direction from the free end of the spring 26 and at such time said spring 26 of its own resiliency will move upwardly into contact with the terminal 30 of the lamp, thereby completing the circuit and lightingthe lamp, the circuit being from the terminal 30 and spring 26 through the shell of the upper battery cell 18 to the positive pole 22 of said cell, thence through the conductor 23 to the negative pole of the lower battery cell 18 and thence through the positive pole 24 of said cell and spring '25 to the shell 15 and thence through the stem 11 to the other terminal of the lamp 13. When therefore the slide 28 and thumb -piece 29 are moved in one direction, they permit the automatic electrical connection of the spring 26 with the terminal 30 of the lamp, the'circuit being completed thereby, and when the slide 28 and thumb piece 29 are moved in the reverse direction, the fin ger 27 carried by the slide moves the spring '26 from its engagement with the terminal 30 and acts as an obstruction to prevent said spring from moving into electrical connection with said terminal 30.

It will be seen from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawing that lhave produced a very efficient and simple form of pocket flash light in the similitude of a watch case, the chamber within the casing of the flash light. serving to receive the battery cells and the stem 11 affording a suitable socket for the lamp bulb and its parts.

In Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive I illustrate a modified form of my invention in which 40 designates the exterior casing as a whole, 41 the stem creating a socket for the lamp, and 42 a ring swiveled to said stem and adapted to receive the end of a chain or the like. The casing 10 is formed of two substantially equal shells 43, 44 which form within them a receiving chamber for the battery cells 45, 46. The shells 43, 44 are circular in edge outline and in general respects resemble the shells 15, 16, shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. In this instance the shells 43, 44 are not hinged together, but snapped at their edges one upon the other whereby they become detachably connected together and may be opened outwardly from each other. The stem 41 is the same as the stem 11, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and is carried by the shell 43 and receives the lamp in the same manner that the stem 11 receives the lamp 13. The cells 45,46 are parallel with each other, with oppositely arranged poles and supported within an opening 47 formed in a non-conducting partition 48 which fits within the shell 43. The partition 48 is formed of vulcanite or other suitable nonconducting material and it carries a contact spring 49 having two ends, one engaging the negative pole of the cell 45 and the other the positive pole of the cell 46. The partition 48 also carries a conducting or contact spring having one arm 50 in normal engagement with the central terminal 51 of the lamp and its other arm 52 in permanent engagement with the positive pole 53 of'the battery cell 45. The shell 43 is of metal and the other lamp terminal is in electrical connection with it and therefore in order to complete the clrcuit through the lamp and battery cells it will be necessary for the negative pole of the lower battery cell 46 to be brought within the electric circuit, and to this end I provide a switch 54 in the form of a leaf spring having one end connected with an exposed slide or thumb piece 55 and its other end in convenient relation to the negative pole of the battery cell 46. The switch 54 extends along the rim of the casing section 43 in contact. therewith and is at its free portion curved inwardly toward the cell 46, and the said casing section 43 is formed at the outer side of said switch 54 with a projection 56 which serves, when the switch is moved downwardly and caused to ride against it, to force the free end of the spring inwardly against the cell 46. When the switch 54 is in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the free end thereof is not in conta with the cell 46, but when the thumb plece or slide 55 is moved downwardly along the edge of the casing section 43, said switch is caused to move downwardly and by reason of its curvature andthe presence of the projection or stud 56 passes inwardly, at its free end, into engagement with the negative end of the battery cell 46, therebyvcompleting the circuit through the lamp, the circuit beingfrom the lamp terminal 51 and arms 50, 52 to to the positive pole of the cell 45, thence through the spring '49 from the negative pole of the cell 45 to the positive pole of the cell 46 and thence through'the switch 54 to the casing section 43, stem 41 and that terminal of the lamp engaging said stem. lVhen it is desired to break the circuit and extinguish the lamp, the slide or thumb piece 55 is moved upwardl toward the stem 41, thereby withdrawing the spring 54 from engagement with the battery cell 46.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1, the switch spring 26 automatically engages the lamp terminal when the thumb plece 29 and slide 2 8 are moved to permit that result,

-. opened one from t while in the construction shown in'Figs. 5 and 6.the circuit is made by manuall moving the switch 54 into engagement with the battery cell 46.

In both forms of the invention the flash light casing is in the form of a watch case and the lamp is carried within what, in a watch case, might be called the stem. The constructions presented by me are entirely efficient in use and in each instance the easing conveniently receives the battery cells and parts necessary for making and breakin the circuit.

Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure b Lettersatent, is:

1. A 00 et electric light com arising an electrica 1y conductive casing inc uding two shallow matchin shells a'dapted to be e other and one of which carries on its side edge a socket for holding a miniature electric lamp having one terminal extended'within the casing, a battery within the casing, means for electrically connecting one pole of the batter wi hl casing, a spring switch connects, withfthe opposite pole of the battery, and manually operative means on the edge of the casing for controlling the action of said sprin switch, said spring switch being adapte when unrestramedto engage the said lai'np terminal, and said manually operative means having a non-conducting memberextending 'within the casing for engaging said sprin switch and holding it out of contact with the lamp terminal.

2. A pocket electric light comprisin a battery-containing casing having opposite circular side parts one of which is adapted to be opened, a stem-forming lamp socket projecting radially from the edge of said casing and adapted .to receive an electric lamp, a ring pivoted in the projecting lamp socket, a circuit-controlling spring member ncction with the adapted when unrestrained to maintain the circuit in closed condition, and a manually actuatable member for holding said spring member at the open circuit position.

3. An.electric flash light comprisin a casin com osed of two shallow matching circu ar she ls adapted to be opened one from the other and one of which carries on its side edge a socket adapted to receive a miniature electric lamp bulb, a battery within said casing having one pole in electric concasing, which is of conductingmatcrial, a spring switch connected with the other pole of the battery and adapt ed when unrestrained to engage one lamp terminal, and manually operative means on the edge of the casing for controlling said spring switch, said manually operative means including a non-conducting member extending within the casing for engaging said spring switch and holding it out of engagement with the lamp terminal.

An electric flash light comprising a casing composed of two shallow matching shells adapted to be opened one from the other and one of which carries on its side edge a socket holding a miniature electric lamp bulb having one terminal extended within said casing, a battery within said casing comprising a plurality of cells in side by side relation, means for electrically connecting one pole of one of said cells with the casing, which is of conducting material, a spring switch connected with the opposite pole of another of said cells, conducting means connecting the other opposite poles of said cells together, and manually operative means on the edge of the casing for controlling the action of said spring switch.

5. An electric flash light comprising a casing composed of two shallow matching shells adapted to be opened. one' from the other and one of which carries on its side edge a socket holding a miniature electric lamp bulb having one terminal extended within said casing, a battery within said casing comprising a plurality of cells in side by side relation, means for electrically connecting one pole of one of said cells with the casing, which is of conducting material, a spring switch connected with the opposite pole of another of said cells, conducting means connecting the other opposite poles of said cells together, and manually operative means on the edge of the casing for controlling the action of said spring switch, said spring switch being adapted when unrestrained to engage the said lamp terminal, and said manually operative means being aslide having a non-conducting member extending within the casing for engaging said spring switch and holding it out of circuit.

6. A pocket electric light comprising an electrically conductive casing including two shallow matching shells adapted to be opened one from the other and one of which carries on its side edge a socket for holding a miniature electric lamp, having one terminal extended within said casing, a battery within the casing comprising a plurality oi cells in side bv side relation with their poles arranged in reverse relation so that the opposite poles are adjacent, means for electrically connecting one pole of one of said cells with the casing, a spring switch connected with the opposite pole of another of said cells, conducting means connecting together the other opposite poles of said cells, and manually operative means on the edge of the casing for controlling the action of said spring switch.

7. A pocket electric light comprising an electrically conductive casing including two shallow matching shells adapted to be opened one from the othergand one of which carries on its side edge a socket-for holding a miniature electric lamp having one terminal extended within the casing, a battery within the casing comprising a plurality of cells in side by side relation with their poles arranged in reverse relation so that the opposite poles are adjacent, means for electrically connecting one pole of one of said cells with the casing, a spring switch connected with the opposite pole of another of said cells. conducting means connecting together the other opposite poles of said cells, and manually operative means on the edge of the casing for controlling the action of said spring switch, said spring switch being adapted when unrestrained to engage the said lamp terminal, and said manually operative means having a non-conducting electrically member extending within the casing for engaging said spring switch and holding it out of contact with the lamp terminal.

8. A. pocket electric light comprising a casing having opposite circular side parts one of which is adapted to be opened and at least one of these side electrically conductive material, a stemforming electrically conductive lamp socket projecting radially from the edge of said conductive casing part and adapted to receive an electric lamp with its central terminal exposed within the casing, a ring pivoted in the projecting lamp socket, a battery within the casing comprising a plurality of cells inside by side relation with their poles arranged in reverse relation so that the opposite poles are adjacent, means for electrically connecting one pole of one of said cells with said electrically conductive casing part, means for connecting together the adjacent opposite poles of the adjacent cells, a contact-making spring for automatically closing the circuit between the remaining pole of the uemainingr battery cell and the exposed central terminal of the lamp, and a manually actuatablc member on the edge of the casing for holding the said contact-making spring out of contact with thelamp terminal.

Signed at New York city, of Xew York and State of New York, this 3rd day of November, A. D. 1915.

BERNARD BENEDICT.

\Vitnesses ARTHUR Mamox, CHAS. O. GILL.

parts being of in the county 

